US3140040A

US3140040A - Envelope for enclosing bank statements and the like

Info

Publication number: US3140040A
Application number: US260592A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hyman Jerome
Original assignee: Tension Envelope Corp
Current assignee: Tension Envelope Corp
Priority date: 1963-02-25
Filing date: 1963-02-25
Publication date: 1964-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-07

Description

July 7, 1964 HYMAN 3,140,040

ENVELOPE FOR ENCLOSING BANK STATEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PA! (or nance RI-Isr co. SGQ KANSAS CITY MQISGB Prevmus endorscmfs JOHN SM'TH C0 INVENTOR.-

ATTGRNE Y July 7, 1964 Y N 3,140,040

ENVELOPE FOR ENCLOSING BANK STATEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jere/27a Hyman hem ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,140,040 ENVELGPE FUR ENCLUSING BANK STATEMENTS AND THE LIKE Jerome Hyman, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 260,592 2 Claims. (Cl. 22--68) This invention relates to a window envelope for an enclosure of less width than the width of the envelope and having a mailing address thereon that must be kept in registry with the window, for example, to an envelope for use by banks in sending statements and canceled checks to their depositors.

It is the practice for banks to wrap the statement of a checking account about the canceled checks and place them in an envelope large enough to accommodate the checks therein. This requires addressing each envelope with the name and address of the customer, and there is a possibility that the enclosures do not always get into a properly addressed envelope. Besides this possibility of error, separate addressing of the many envelopes that are sent out each month requires considerable manhours of Work that would be saved if a satisfactory window envelope could be used, since the statements always bear the name and address of the depositor.

Modern statements are more or less standard in size to accommodate them to automatic bookkeeping and accounting machines, and the statements are considerably narrower in width than the length of the checks that are enclosed therewith. Consequently, a window envelope having sufficient width to accommodate the canceled checks will allow the statement to shift therein from one side of the envelope to the other, so that the address does not appear, or only partially appears, within the window opening. Even in cases where the statements are clipped to the checks, they may not be clipped in the proper place to expose the address thereon through the window opening. In such cases, the postal authorities are unable to deliver the envelope, and such envelopes must be returned to the bank.

Various attempts have been made to prevent shifting of the statement in an envelope, but in most instances such attempts have interfered with insertion of the enclosures, increased the cost of the envelopes to the bank, or the envelopes are diflicult to produce because they vary from standard envelope making procedure.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a window envelope large enough to accommodate the canceled checks and having a built-in guide and stop to facilitate insertion of the statement with the checks and to assure fixed registry of the address on the statement with the window opening.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a guide and stop construction for window envelopes which is readily blanked out in one of the side flaps of an otherwise conventional envelope blank which is then folded and gummed on high speed rotary envelope making machines and in accordance with standard envelope manufacturing processes, so that such envelopes can be produced at substantially the same cost as the usual Window envelope.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, improved structure has been provided, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diagonal steam envelope embodying the features of the present invention, and showing insertion of a statement and canceled checks, a portion of the side seams of the envelope being broken away and the marginal edge of the

bottom

3,14%,040 Patented July 7, 1964 flap turned back, to better illustrate the construction thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the check and statement assembly from the opposite side, particularly illustrating the name and address on the statement and the customary manner of folding the statement about the canceled checks.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope showing the canceled checks and statement assembly after the assembly has been placed in the pocket of the envelope, parts of the envelope being broken away to better illustrate the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the envelope with the bottom flap opened up to better illustrate the shape of the side fiap.

PEG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the sealed envelope, particularly illustrating a tear strip that may be provided to facilitate opening of the sealed closure flap.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a double side seam envelope of the pressure sealing type, constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions of the back panel being broken away to better illustrate the construction, and showing a bank statement or the like contained therein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pressure seal envelope having a flip flap, with the statement and checks inserted therein and ready for sealing of the closure flap, the sides of the back panel being broken away to show the adhesive that secures the back panel to the side flaps.

FIG. 8 is one end of a double side seam envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the customary closure flap having a gum requiring moisture to make a seal with the back panel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the envelope of FIG. 6, opened up to better illustrate the side flaps.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and first to the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive:

1 designates a window envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention, for enclosing a bank depositors statement of account 2 together with the canceled checks 3 set out in the statement, and whereby the depositor may verify his records.

The envelope 1 is formed from a single blank, much as in the manufacture of a conventional diagonal seam envelope, to provide a front panel 4 having a width conforming to the length of the checks 3 and a depth of ample size to conform with the height of the folded statement 2, as later to be described. The envelope also includes side flaps 5 and 6 and a back or bottom flap 7. The side flaps 5 and 6 are joined coextensively with the sides of the front panel by folds 8 and 9 so that they overlie the inner face of the front panel 4, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The back flap 7 is connected with the lower portion of the front panel on a transverse fold 10, so that marginal portions 11 and 12 overlap

marginal portions

13 and 14 of the side flaps 5 and 6.

The inner edges of the side flaps 5 and 6 have

bottom edges

15 and 16 converging from near the lower bottom corners of the front panel to join in

rounding curves

17 and 18 with

upper edges

19 and 20 that extend along the upper marginal portion of the front panel at a lesser angle of convergence. The overlapping margins 11-13 and 12-14 are secured together by adhesive, which may be in the form of

stripes

23 and 24, in the manner of a conventional diagonal seam envelope.

The back flap 7 has an upper marginal portion having an edge 25 substantially corresponding with the

upper edges

19 and 29 on the upper marginal portions of the side flaps and 6, so that when the flaps are sealed together by the

adhesive strips

23 and 24, the side and back form a back panel 26 which cooperates with the front panel 4 in providing a pocket 27 between the front and back panels of the envelope, having the sides and bottom closed by the

folds

8, 3 and 10.

The adhesive stripe 24 seals the back flap 7 with the corresponding side flap 6 for substantially the full depth of the envelope, however, the adhesive stripe 23 terminates short of the upper edge of the side flap 5, to leave the upper terminal portion 28 of the side flap 5 unattached with respect to the back flap 7. The upper terminal portion 23 of the side flap thus provides a loose projecting terminal portion that continues from the upper marginal portion of the side flap 5 toward the other side flap 6, but which terminates short thereof, as shown in FIGS. ,1 and 3, and forms a saddle-like seat 29 over which the statement 2 is applied when the checks and statement assembly are slid into the pocket 27 of the envelope, as later described. The terminal point of the adhesive stripe 23 is also located between the loose terminal portion 23 and the side fold 8, as shown in the drawings. A round bottom notch 30 is provided in the side flap 5 directly below the terminal portion 28 to contain therein one side of the statement 2, and form a stop means to hold the other side edge of the statement in contact with the inner face of the fold 9 and immovable laterally with respect to a window opening 31 within the front panel 4. The front panel has a closure flap 32 extending along the insert opening 33 of the envelope. The closure flap 32 has the usual sealing gum 34 and a score 35 on which the closure flap is folded and sealed over the back panel to close the insert opening.

An envelope containing a thick pack of canceled checks is relatively rigid, and it is diflicult to open the closure flap. To facilitate opening of the closure flap it may be provided with a tab 36 that projects from an edge thereof. The tab 36 forms the start of a tear strip 37 that is defined in the closure flap by lines of

perforations

38 and 39 on the respective sides of the tab. The perforations extend up to the score 35 of the closure flap, so that when the tab 36 is pulled up and back toward the fold of the closure flap (FIG. 5), a sufficient opening is formed between the gum 34 and the fold 35 for the entrance of a letter opener or the like, to tear along the fold, thereby opening up the insert opening 33.

When the tab 36 is used, the gum 34 on the closure flap 32 will be omitted between the lines of

perforations

38 and 39, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. To start tear along the lines of perforations, the perforations may start at the edge of the closure flap in

cuts

40 and 41.

In using the envelope 1, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, the name of the depositor and address 42 which are applied to the heading 43 of the statement 2 serve as the address of the envelope. The statement is folded along the bottom of the heading 43, as indicated at 44, and the body portion of the statement is folded reversely as at 45, so that the spacing between the

folds

44 and 45 is substantially the depth of the envelope pocket 27. The fold 45 provides two

overlying sections

46 and 47 of the body of the statement, forming pocket for containing the canceled checks 3 therein. The checks are positioned with ends 48 thereof substantially registering with the edge 49 of the statement nearest the address 42.

The assembled statement and canceled checks are then applied within the insert opening 33 of the pocket 27 of the envelope, with the folded-over heading 43 thereof facing the inner face of the front panel 4 and with the ends 48 of the checks and side edge 49 of the statement in position to slide along the inner face of the fold 9 (FIG. 1), while the opposite ends 50 of the checks are in position to silde into the opposite end of the pocket 27.

On placing the statement in the pocket, care is taken to assure that the section 47 of the statement slides between the free portion 28 of the side flap 5 and the back flap 7 of the envelope into and through the notch 30. The assembly is pushed into the pocket with the edge 49 of the statement and the ends 48 of the checks sliding along the inner face of the fold 9, and the edge 51 of the section 47 of the statement sliding along the rounding bottom of the notch 34 until the statement and canceled check assembly is completely contained within the envelope. In this position the fold 44 will seat on the inner face of the bottom fold 10. The statement cannot shift laterally, that is, widthwise of the pocket of the envelope, because the

edges

51 and 49 thereof are in close engagement with the inner face of the side fold 9 and in close engagement with the stop means 30, respectively. The address 42 on the statement is, therefore, retained in registry with the window opening 31, so that it is always visible therethrough. It is obvious that in placing the assembled unit in the pocket, the insert opening opens across the entire width of the envelope for easy entrance of the checks, and that a space opens up between the terminal portion 28 and the inner face of the bottom flap so that the outer side of the folded statement can pass readily therebetween as the inner folded portion of the statement and checks are passed into the pocket of the envelope.

Upon moistening of the gum 34 and folding of the closure flap along the score 35, the sealing flap 32 is brought over the insert opening and sealed to the back panel of the envelope, thereby securely retaining the statement from up and down movement within the pocket of the envelope, to assure that the address 42 does not shift relatively to the upper and lower edges of the window opening 31.

If the envelope is equipped with a tab 36 and a tear strip 37, the envelope will be opened by the depositor by pulling outwardly and upwardly on the tab 36, to cause the strip portion 37 to tear along the lines of

perforations

38 and 39. When the tear strip is torn up to the fold on the score 35, the fold 45 of the statement is made visible, so that a letter opener may be inserted through the opening left by the tear strip and alongside of the statement, to cut along the fold of the closure flap, thereby opening the envelope so that the statement and checks may be readily removed. In this way there is no danger of cutting through the statement with the letter opener.

The envelope of FIGS. 6 and 9 is a double side seam envelope of the pressure or dry seal type.

The envelope of FIG. 6 is formed of a single blank (as shown in FIG. 9) folded to provide a generally rectangular front panel 60 having a window opening 61 therein. The panel 60 conforms in width to the largest enclosure, such as checks, and the depth conforms to the height of the folded statement 2. The envelope includes a relatively narrow side flap 62 at one side that is folded over the inner face of the panel 60 on a fold 63. The flap 64 at the opposite side is substantially wider and is folded over the inner face of the panel 60 on a fold 65. In keeping with the present invention, the inner marginal edge of the side flap 64 is shaped to provide a finger-like portion 66 and a lower notch portion 67. The envelope also includes a generally rectangular back panel 68 substantially conforming to the width of the front panel 60. The back panel is connected to the lower edge of the front panel 60 by a fold 69 to overlie the side flaps 62 and 64. The

side margins

70 and 71 of the back panel are secured to the side flaps 62 and 64 by

adhesive stripes

72 and 73. The free edge 74 of the back panel preferably terminates short of the upper edges of the side flaps, to cooperate with the front panel 60 in providing an insert opening 75. A closure flap 76 for the insert opening is connected with the upper edge of the front panel by a fold 77 and has a stripe of dry seal adhesive 78 extending along the inner face thereof, to make sealing contact with a similar stripe 5 of dry adhesive 79 extending along the upper portion of the back panel 68.

In using the pressure sealing envelope of FIG. 6, the statement 2 is folded over the canceled checks in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The assembly is placed so that the heading 42 faces the inner face of the front panel 60, with the fold 44 of the statement positioned within the insert opening 75 of the envelope. In this position the section 46 of the statement is guided between the inner face of the front panel 60 and the finger 66, while the section 47 is guided between the finger 66 and the inner face of the back panel 68, care being taken that the lower edge of the section 47 passes into the notch 67 as the assembly is pushed into the pocket of the envelope. When the assembly is in place, with the lower edges of the

sections

46 and 47 engaging the inner face of the fold 69, the upper fold 45 of the statement is slightly below the fold 77 of the closure flap 76. The edge 51 of the section 47 of the statement engages the bottom of the notch 67 and the opposite edges of the statement substantially engage the inner face of the fold 63, so that shifting of the statement is limited within the pocket of the envelope. The closure flap 76 is folded on the fold 77 to close the insert opening 75 of the envelope and overlie the outer face of the back panel. In this position, the gum 78 is in contact with the gum 79 and a seal is effected therebetween by applying pressure on the closure flap.

The pressure seal envelope of FIG. 7 is generally the same as that of FIG. 6, except that the

side gum stripes

80 and 81 terminate short of the upper edges of the inturned side flaps 82 and 83. The back panel 84 is provided with a transverse line of fold 85 just above the upper terminals of the

adhesive stripes

80 and 81, to provide a flip flap 86. The flip flap 86 has pressure sealing gum 87 on the outer face thereof, so that when the fiip flap 86 is folded upon the line of fold 8-5, the pressure sealing gum 87 is protected from contact with the pressure sealing gum 88 on the closure flap 89. This type of envelope has the advantage in that the finger 90 on the side flap 83 is more exposed, making it easier to manipulate the statement with the checks into the envelope. Also, the closure flap 89 may be folded without danger of contacting the pressure sealing gum thereon with the pressure sealing gum on the flip flap 86.

To place the enclosures, the closure flap 89 is lifted to uncover the insert opening. After the enclosures are passed into the pocket, with the edge 51 of the section 47 passing into the notch 91, the flip flap 86 is lifted from its folded-over position so that the pressure sealing gum 87 thereon is in position to be contacted by the pressure sealing gum 88 on the closure flap 89.

The envelope of FIG. 8 follows the construction of the envelope of FIG. 6 with the exception that the gum 92 on the closure flap 93 is of a type which requires moisture to make a seal with the back panel 94. The inserts are placed therein exactly in the same manner as the inserts are placed in the envelope of FIG. 6.

While I have illustrated and described the invention for use in mailing bank statements together With canceled checks, it is obvious that the envelopes described may be used for other types of statements or enclosures that are of less width than the width of the envelopes, so that the address thereon may be used for the mailing address of the envelopes.

It is obvious that the envelope having the tear strip 37, the tear strip overlies the guide portion of the side flap when the closure flap is sealed, and when the tear strip is torn back along the lines of perforations to the fold of the closure flap, the folded portion of the statement that is astride of the guide portion is opened to view. Therefore, a letter opener or the like inserted in opening the closure flap can easily be inserted at one or the other side of the folded statement, and there is no danger of cutting the statement along the fold 45.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An envelope containing enclosures, one having a width greater than the width of the other, said envelope including a rectangular panel providing a front face of the envelope and having a width corresponding with the width of the widest enclosure and a depth corresponding with height of the narrower enclosure,

side flaps connected coextensively with sides of said panel by folds and overlying said panel with upper marginal portions substantiallly coextensive width and overlying the upper marginal portions of the panel,

one of said side flaps having a projecting terminal portion extending from said side flap coextensive with the upper marginal portion of said side flap toward the other side flap but terminating short thereof,

a back flap connected coextensively along the lower edge of said panel by a fold line and overlying portions of said side flaps and having an upper marginal portion cooperating with the upper marginal portions of the side flaps and the upper marginal portion of said front panel to provide an insert opening therebetween,

adhesive connecting the back flap with the side flaps to provide a panel constituting the rear face of the envelope and completing formation of a pocket between said panels having a width sufiicient to accommodate the width of the widest enclosure and a depth to accommodate the height of the narrower enclosure,

one of said panels having a window for exposing an address on the narrower enclosure,

said adhesive which connects the side flap having the projecting terminal portion being located between the said projecting terminal portion and the fold of said side flap to leave the projecting terminal portion freely contained between the overlying portions of the said panels whereby said projecting terminal portion engages a portion of the narrower enclosure at one side thereof when the opposite side of the enclosure engages within the fold of the said other side flap when said narrower enclosure is moved through the insert opening into the pocket of the envelope,

said side flap below said projecting terminal portion terminating at the said projecting terminal portion and having stop means for engaging an edge of said narrower enclosure that is engaged by said projecting terminal portion to cooperate with the side fold of the said other side flap for holding said narrower enclosure substantially immovable in the widthwise direction of said pocket to retain the address in registry with said window, and

a gummed closure flap on the front panel and foldable over the insert opening to seal with the rear panel for retaining said enclosures in said pocket.

2. An envelope containing an assembly which consists of a folded sheet and an enclosure having a width greater than the width of the folded sheet and a height no higher than the height of the folded sheet, said enveloped including a rectangular panel providing a front face of the envelope and having a width corresponding to the width of the enclosure and a depth corresponding to the height of the folded sheet,

side flaps connected coextensively with sides of said panel by folds and freely overlying said panel and having upper marginal portions extending along and overlying upper marginal portions of the panel,

one of said side flaps having a projecting terminal portion extending from said side flap in continuation with the upper marginal portion of said side flap toward the other side flap but terminating short thereof to provide a saddle,

a back flap connected coextensively along the lower adhesive connecting the back flap with the side flaps to provide a panel constituting the rear face of the envelope and to complete a pocket between said panels having a width to accommodate the width of the enclosure and a depth to accommodate the height of the folded sheet,

one of said panels having a window for exposing an address on the folded sheet,

said adhesive which connects the side flap having the saddle being located between the saddle and the fold of said side flap to leave the saddle freely contained between the overlying portions of the side panels whereby the saddle provides a seat for one end of a fold in the folded sheet when the assembly is contained in the pocket of the envelope,

said side flap below said saddle terminating at said saddle and having stop means engaging an edge of the marginal portion of the folded sheet that is seated astride the saddle to cooperate with the side fold of the said other side flap for holding said folded sheet substantially immovable in the widthwise direction of said pocket to retain the address in registry with said window, and

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,355 Williams Dec. 1, 1885 1,044,935 Snider Nov. 19, 1912 1,858,277 Overly May 17, 1932 1,977,042 Cather Oct. 16, 1934 2,092,149 Berkowitz Sept. 7, 1937 2,887,327 Tucker May 19, 1959 2,956,725 Landry Oct. 18, 1960 3,013,713 Whitman Dec. 19, 1961

Claims

1. AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING ENCLOSURES, ONE HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE OTHER, SAID ENVELOPE INCLUDING A RECTANGULAR PANEL PROVIDING A FRONT FACE OF THE ENVELOPE AND HAVING A WIDTH CORRESPONDING WITH THE WIDTH OF THE WIDEST ENCLOSURE AND A DEPTH CORRESPONDING WITH HEIGHT OF THE NARROWER ENCLOSURE, SIDE FLAPS CONNECTED COEXTENSIVELY WITH SIDES OF SAID PANEL BY FOLDS AND OVERLYING SAID PANEL WITH UPPER MARGINAL PORTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WIDTH AND OVERLYING THE UPPER MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE PANEL, ONE OF SAID SIDE FLAPS HAVING A PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID SIDE FLAP COEXTENSIVE WITH THE UPPER MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID FLAP TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE FLAP BUT TERMINATING SHORT THEREOF, A BACK FLAP CONNECTED COEXTENSIVELY ALONG THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PANEL BY A FOLD LINE AND OVERLYING PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE FLAPS AND HAVING AN UPPER MARGINAL PORTION COOPERATING WITH THE UPPER MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE SIDE FLAPS AND THE UPPER MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID FRONT PANEL TO PROVIDE AN INSERT OPENING THEREBETWEEN. ADHESIVE CONNECTING THE BACK FLAP WITH THE SIDE FLAPS TO PROVIDE A PANEL CONSTITUTING THE REAR FACE OF THE ENVELOPE AND COMPLETING FORMATION OF A POCKET BETWEEN SAID PANELS HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE WIDTH OF THE WIDEST ENCLOSURE AND A DEPTH TO ACCOMMODATE THE HEIGHT OF THE NARROWER ENCLOSURE, ONE OF SAID PANELS HAVING A WINDOW FOR EXPOSING AN ADDRESS ON THE NARROWER ENCLOSURE, SAID ADHESIVE WHICH CONNECTS THE SIDE FLAP HAVING THE PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION BEING LOCATED BETWEEN THE SAID PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION AND THE FOLD OF SAID SIDE FLAP TO LEAVE THE PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION FREELY CONTAINED BETWEEN THE OVERLYING PORTIONS OF THE SAID PANELS WHEREBY SAID PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION ENGAGES A PORTION OF THE NARROWER ENCLOSURE AT ONE SIDE THEREOF WHEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE ENGAGES WITHIN THE FOLD OF THE SAID OTHER SIDE FLAP WHEN SAID NARROWER ENCLOSURE IS MOVED THROUGH THE INSERT OPENING INTO THE POCKET OF THE ENVELOPE, SAID SIDE FLAP BELOW SAID PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION TERMINATING AT THE SAID PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION AND HAVING STOP MEANS FOR ENGAGING AN EDGE OF SAID NARROWER ENCLOSURE THAT IS ENGAGED BY SAID PROJECTING TERMINAL PORTION TO COOPERATE WITH THE SIDE FOLD OF THE SAID OTHER SIDE FLAP FOR HOLDING SAID NARROWER ENCLOSURE SUBSTANTIALLY IMMOVABLE IN THE WIDTHWISE DIRECTION OF SAID POCKET TO RETAIN THE ADDRESS IN REGISTRY WITH SAID WINDOW, AND A GUMMED CLOSURE FLAP ON THE FRONT PANEL AND FOLDABLE OVER THE INSERT OPENING TO SEAL WITH THE REAR PANEL FOR RETAINING SAID ENCLOSURES IN SAID POCKET.